kick in

verb

kicked in; kicking in; kicks in

transitive verb

: contribute

intransitive verb

1

: to begin operating or having an effect : get started

waiting for the heater to kick in

2

: to make a contribution

3

slang : die

Synonyms of kick in

• contribute

Examples of kick in in a Sentence

if everyone in the department kicks in, we can give him an especially nice present for his retirement

the ornery cuss finally kicked in at the ripe old age of 90

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s a very distinctly higher level of just energy approached by everyone in the building and the complementary football when that thing kicks in. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Nov. 2025

Even at home, the same group of kids broke her window and kicked in her door last May. —Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025

Then comes the base which is a blend of cashmere wood, vanilla, and musk, and this is where the sexiest part of the scent kicks in. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 21 Nov. 2025

The support measures will kick in January, amounting to about 7,000 yen for a standard household over a three-month period, according to the NHK report. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for kick in

• chicken
• likin
• quicken
• sicken
• stricken
• thicken
• indican

Kids Definition

kick in

verb

1

: contribute sense 1

2

: start sense 2